Living in the suburbs of Chicago, occasionally brings me downtown into the heart of the city. It’s on those occasions that I am struck by the number of homeless, who spend their days (in summer and in winter) aimlessly wondering about the city. This image has inspired me to compose In The Morning Sun. I can only imagine the emptiness and perhaps fear, they must feel as evening turns to night and the rest of us leave the city, leaving them cold and alone.

As a child, I was a big science fiction fan. Reading all of the standard sci-fi novels of the time, I noticed that the general theme was gloom and doom when it came to the human race. And how one day, machines will be our masters. Again, this inspired me to compose more music. Enter the song, Machine Maker. It’s a retrospective of sci-fi from my childhood.

The Time We Knew is perhaps one of my favorite works of the entire collection. Inspired by the realization that our lives are merely cycles that repeat themselves from generation to generation. One day while sitting in my studio staring at some old photos hanging on the walls, I noticed the pattern. I saw grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren, all apparently doing the same things. All being babies, growing up, going to school, getting jobs, getting married, having children, growing old together, retiring and eventually passing on. Sounds depressing, but it really isn’t. Each one of us gets our own life and can enjoy or suffer every moment. It’s our choice.

In the Spring of 1987, my mother passed away after battling cancer. It was a dark period in my life. At the time, I felt as if life was treating good people very badly. The experience was inspiration to write The Brighter Side. Every time I perform that song, it reminds me that good and bad things happen, but usually there is a bright side. Sometimes it can be difficult to see it, but we should always be searching for it.

On The Thin Edge Of Insanity is where we all balance the busy schedules and responsibilities that make up our lives.

Everyone should meet a soul-mate during their lifetime. It’s the single most important experience we all need to have. I met mine 30 years ago. I still remember the feelings of infatuation that have matured into feelings of love and deep respect. She is my love, my best friend and The Girl That I Adore and so inspired me to write a little song about her.

I’m sure everyone has experienced the drifting apart that occurs when old friends become nothing more than memories. It has happened more than a few times in my life. And as such, I drew inspiration from that for the song Old Relations. What makes it an especially interesting story for me was observing how I felt on the few occasions where I had the good fortune to get back in touch with a friend of years past. You would think it would be a wonderful and energizing experience, but often it’s not. Often, both of you have changed and neither really can relate to the other any longer, which makes for this kind of awkward longing to go back to the time when you were close friends. The moral to the story folks? You can’t go back. We grow and change every day. Let it go and move on. Remember and cherish the experiences you once had and open your self up to new ones everyday.

-Mark

Cover Art

The First Date: CD Cover

The First Date: CD Page 1

The First Date: CD Page 2

The First Date: CD Page 3

The First Date: CD Back

The First Date: CD Tray

Lyrics

In The Morning Sun

When the morning comes, he finds himself asleep. Feel the rising sun; it warms him with its heat.Dew settled on, the ground around his feet. See the joggers run, over near the street.

The morning's here; wash away the fear. Another day, he cannot find his way.He feels the breeze; hear birds sing in the trees. He wants to run, there in the morning sun.

The children circle him, and whisper to themselves. They could never know, his life's a living hell.It's time he should move on, still lying where he fell. He's a day older now, but who could ever tell?

The morning's here; wash away the fear. Another day, he cannot find his way.He feels the breeze; hear birds sing in the trees. He wants to run, there in the morning sun.

The morning's here; wash away the fear. Another day, he cannot find his way.He feels the breeze; hear birds sing in the trees. He wants to run, there in the morning sun.

The moment freezes him; a thought has crossed his mind. Suddenly he realized, his bottle he can't find.He searches frantically; something's caught his eye. A brown paper bag; he leaves a shallow sigh.

The morning's here; wash away the fear. Another day, he cannot find his way.He feels the breeze; hear birds sing in the trees. He wants to run, there in the morning sun.

The morning's here; wash away the fear. Another day, he cannot find his way.He feels the breeze; hear birds sing in the trees. He wants to run; he's not the only one.

The morning's here; wash away the fear. Another day, he cannot find his way.

Copyright 1987 Mark Ruester

Creepers

Creepers survived through the yearsStepping out as shoes you shouldn't hearCreepers are soft as a baby's skinSoftly sneaking they shuffle in

Creepers come and creepers goKeeping secrets others never know

Copyright 1987 Mark Ruester & Greg Teresi

Machine Maker

Stretched across, the vast expanse,like rumbling clouds, in summer storm.An industry, that is so advanced,to set a record-breaking norm.

Golden days are long since gone,Held with them are dreams of the past.The bearing-race is grinding on,Soon it will be going too fast.

Be careful not, to gaze too long.For blinding lights, will take your site.The distant sounds, of the machines' songs,will keep, the rhythm through the night.

Blackened smoke, from chimneys billow,Bring children, dreams of futures.Working days, far from the blue seas.Automation is their "Nature".

Copyright 1987 Mark Ruester

On The Thin Edge Of Insanity

Where is it that you've gone? Who did you used to know? What should you have done? Before you had to go?

Life borders on the thin edge of insanity. Illusion is just a weak bond to reality. Slip into dreams and the truth you will always see. Life borders on the thin edge of insanity.Illusion is just a weak bond to reality. Slip into dreams and the truth you will always see. Life borders on the thin edge of insanity.

At this point you have missed nothing.You've seen everything the dawn could bring.I hate to shatter your naivety.And tell you that you've been all wrong.You can't see those things that I see.You haven't seen everything.I can't believe what you are saying!How can I know what is right?The image of me that you're seeing,Is wrong and is not what I'm like.It's time that you listen to meYou haven't seen everything.Where is it that you've gone? Who is it that you used to know?What should you have done?Before the time you had to go?

Life borders on the thin edge of insanity. Illusion is just a weak bond to reality. Slip into dreams and the truth you will always see. Life borders on the thin edge of insanity. Illusion is just a weak bond to reality. Slip into dreams and the truth you will always see. Life borders on the thin edge of insanity.

Copyright 2012 Mark Ruester

The Brighter Side

Once in awhile the world is unfairKind to the cruelest and cruel to the people who really careWhile the poor get poorer and the lucky get luckierLife spins around like one big circle game

Spinning, spinning, life just circles aroundSometimes winning - we've all felt a little bit downSpinning, spinning, life just circles aroundSometimes winning - we've all felt a little bit down

When all is against you and nothing will go rightAlways keep looking toward that brightly lit brighter sideSpinning, spinning, life just circles aroundSometimes winning - we've all felt a little bit down

Copyright 1987 Mark Ruester

The Time We Knew

I didn't know what time it was, and I didn't really care.Seasons pass, time is lost; feelings are still there.We sit and we watch as the days go by, no one seems to care.Older and older we never stop aging, days we chose to share.

I never imagined that we would still be here at such an advanced age.Gray haired and wrinkled and sagging in places; life in its final stage.Sitting and watching out the front window, it hurts to leave the chair.How did we get here, when did it happen? We didn't seem to care.

One day they'll take us out of this place and bury us both somewhere.I wonder if anyone will ever visit our monument in the sea air.Announcements are made and plans are laid, the cycle starts again.A commitment for life, he makes her his wife, loyal till the end.

Copyright 2012 Mark Ruester

Old Relations

Well it really make you feel, so empty, to be with people, that you once knew.The ages turned the years, to decades, don't you know, that I missed you.We played as children, never knowing, how years apart, slip by so fast.Different lives, brought us different pleasures.It's tough in knowing, that we can't go back.

Old relations. Old relations. Old relations. Echoes of the past.Old relations. Old relations. Old relations. Friends that didn't last.

We played like there was no tomorrow. Living in the day, that's what was real.Planning how we'd make the big time, In our hearts we knew, it was all for fun.Then we grew apart, and went our own ways, raised a family. Forged a career.Different lives, spent on different pleasures.It's tough in knowing, that we can't go back.

Well it really make you feel, so empty, to be with people, that you once knew.Could it be that I have jealous feelings, or just sad, those days are gone.I continue searching for the reasons, My deepest feelings, still haven't found.And late at night I lie there thinking, Of time we spend, with old relations.

Old relations. Old relations. Old relations. Echoes of the past.Old relations. Old relations. Old relations. Friends that didn't last.

Old relations. Old relations. Old relations. Echoes of the past.Old relations. Old relations. Old relations. Friends that didn't last.

Old relations. Old relations. Old relations. Echoes of the past.

Copyright 2012 Mark Ruester

The Girl That I Adore

This is a song about a girl I know,Her name doesn’t matter, you don’t know her anyway,She makes me smile when times are blue,And never would I try to change her ways.

She makes me sing when I’m lonely.And she makes me lost when I’m home.She is the one, she’s the only,Kind of girl that I adore.

She makes me sing when I’m lonely.And she makes me lost when I’m home.She is the one, she’s the only,Kind of girl that I adore.